IF SELF-BELIEF can be considered a reliable yardstick by which to measure a team's promotion credentials, then Bristol City supporters are surely entitled to dream.

While a modest return of one win in nine games proved grist to the mill for those who question City's ability to emulate last season's fourth-place finish in the Coca-Cola Championship, the players themselves refuse to entertain any such doubts.

Rather than lick their wounds and meekly accept their fate in the wake of defeats to upwardly mobile rivals Birmingham City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United, Gary Johnson's charges came out fighting to beat Norwich 1-0 and invest their campaign with renewed impetus.

In doing so, the Robins displayed the kind of inner conviction which makes writing them off a hazardous business.

No surprise then that full-back Jamie McAllister dismisses the sceptics out of hand, insisting he and his team-mates have as much right to covet promotion as any other team in English football's second tier.

He recalled: "People were saying we had lost a bit of confidence after losing 3-0 at Sheffield United, but we never felt that ourselves.

"We lost a couple of games and drew another one and people were talking about a loss of form. But we stuck together as a group, the dressing room stayed strong and we never stopped believing in ourselves.

"That's what you have to do if you want to come through the hard times. Everyone worked hard in training and we got the win we deserved.

"Ask around the lads and they will all tell you the same thing. We've never stopped believing we can be up there near the top of this league and our aim always has been, and still is, to win promotion."

Winning breeds confidence and McAllister and his colleagues have good reason to believe they can emerge victorious from tonight's assignment against Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

"I know it's only one game and we can't allow ourselves to become carried away, but beating Norwich was a big result for us," contends McAllister.

"We produced some good football, got our passing game back together and played with a high tempo the way we like to and know we can.

"I thought we also defended very well and that gives us a solid base to take into the next game. Charlton away will not be easy, but we're going into it believing we can take three points.

"A few more of the lads are back in form after Saturday and it's a game we're looking forward to."

Talk of a slump may be premature at this point, but it is entirely understandable given City's performance last season. And McAllister admits heightened expectation among supporters has brought with it attendant pressures.

He acknowledged: "That's something we're having to deal with this season. We only went three games without a win, but people were saying we were on a bad run.

"We've become victims of our own success, if you like. The fans expect a lot of us after what happened last season and that creates added pressure. But then we expect a lot of ourselves as well and no-one can put more pressure on us than we put on ourselves."

Although the team performance remains uppermost in McAllister's thoughts, he can be excused for wanting to do well for himself at The Valley tonight.

Back in the Scotland squad for the first time in four years for the World Cup qualifier against Norway, McAllister is eager to retain his place.

He may not have made it onto the pitch at Hampden Park, but City's left-back received words of encouragement from boss George Burley.

He revealed: "George had a word with me before the game to tell me why I wasn't playing and he told me I was going to be in his plans in the future.

"I really enjoyed the week with the national squad and it was good to hear those words. Now I have to keep on going as I have been for my club."

For a full Bristol City match report, see www.thisisbristol.co.uk after the final whistle.